Published on: 2026-07-24
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
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Manila, July 24 /Xinhua/ — The Chinese delegation refuted Japan’s false rhetoric regarding the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and the so-called “Chinese threat” at the meetings of foreign ministers held here within the framework of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Speaking about the Taiwan issue, the Chinese side emphasized that it is an internal matter of China. The PRC will never allow separatist forces advocating for “Taiwan independence” to separate the island from China under any pretext or by any means.
According to the delegation, the clearer the international community’s position on countering separatist activities aimed at “Taiwan independence,” and the more resolute its commitment to the one-China principle, the more guaranteed peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will be.
On the issue of the South China Sea, the Chinese side noted that this waterway is the busiest, safest, and most free for navigation in the world. Annually, 30 percent of container cargo, 34 percent of liquefied natural gas, and 40 percent of crude oil pass through it. Moreover, more than 1 million civilian aircraft fly over the South China Sea each year. No ship or aircraft has ever encountered any interference or obstacles.
At the same time, military ships and aircraft of some countries not belonging to this region are heading to the South China Sea solely to create problems.
The delegation pointed out that China will continue to properly resolve relevant disputes with directly concerned parties through bilateral friendly consultations.
The delegation noted that China will also continue to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea alongside ASEAN countries and work towards the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, in order to jointly maintain peace and stability in the region.
The less external forces sow discord and engage in incitement, the more confidence and opportunities the countries in the region will have to ensure regional peace and stability, the delegation said.
Speaking about the so-called “Chinese threat,” the delegation noted that whether a country poses a threat to others depends not on its size, but rather on its past actions and current policies. Both in the past and present, there are many examples showing that larger countries do not necessarily pose a threat, and smaller ones are not always peaceful.
The delegation emphasized that for thousands of years, China, as a large country, has never attacked its neighbors, including Japan. On the contrary, it was Japan that repeatedly invaded China. In particular, the aggressive war waged by Japan in the 1930s caused tremendous suffering to the peoples of China and Southeast Asian countries.
The delegation drew attention to the fact that the Japanese government has been accelerating the rearmament process for many years. Japan’s defense budget has been growing for 14 consecutive years and has increased by 60 percent in the last five years alone. Japan’s per capita defense spending is more than three times that of China. The Japanese government has also lifted the ban on exercising the right to collective self-defense. Moreover, it seeks to revise the three non-nuclear principles. Japan has accumulated huge stockpiles of nuclear materials, including 44.4 tons of separated plutonium, enough to produce thousands of nuclear warheads, the delegation added.
Those who forget history may repeat past mistakes, stated the Chinese delegation, adding that if a country refuses to face history, refuses to acknowledge and repent for the crimes it has committed, and continues to accelerate militarization and rearmament, then there are every reason to exercise increased vigilance towards it.
Japan must truly learn from history, finally break away from militarism, embark on the path of peaceful development, and make greater efforts to earn the trust of its neighbors and the international community, concluded the Chinese delegation. –0–
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